Clay Beck

Funeral services for Clay Beck were held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at Mills Community Church in Mills, Nebraska, with Pastor Kenley Udd officiating. Jason Beehler gave the eulogy, and music was provided by Steve Swanson, pianist, as well as several selections of recorded music. Priscilla Portenier and Linda Stolcpart were in charge of registration. Jason Beehler, Dan Pastian, Mark Wenger, Jon Briggs, John Beck, Beau Beck, Perry Brow, Matt Hansen, Ben Bearshield, and Jerry Marts, Jr. were casket bearers. Honorary pallbearers were Jonah Beck, Noah Beck, Jeremiah Beck, Carter Beck, Wyatt Beck, Boone Beck, Emmett Beck, and Tommy Beck.

Interment was at Olive Branch Cemetery in Mills, NE. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Clay Grant Beck was born on June 11, 1975, in Atkinson, Nebraska, to Dave and Emily (Peterson) Beck. Clay grew up and stayed in the Mills, NE, area his whole life. As a boy, Clay started his love for the outdoors, including riding in the tractor, digging in the dirt, tearing down old motors, and using tools. His passion for hunting and fishing was a natural thing that started when he was a boy and perfected as an adult.

Clay attended K-7th grades at District 1 Country School, and 8th - 12th grades in Gregory, graduating in 1994. Clay played football in the 1994 All Star Game, and the Down Under Bowl in Australia for Team South Dakota. He took a year of carpentry school at Western Dakota Tech but his dad, the ranch, and hunting called Clay back to Mills. Clay and John both purchased 20 head of cattle in 1991. Through continual self-education, market research, and hard work Clay grew his herd and ranch into a respectable cow-calf operation.

It was also in 1994 that Clay and the family started White Oak Outfitters. With Clay’s help, White Oak became a place to make great hunting memories while eating great food and taking trophy deer, turkey, and pheasant. Clay and the lodge appeared on several hunting shows including, Ultimate Outdoors with Wayne Pearson, Jeff Engel Outdoors, Mossy Oak for both deer and turkey, the Turkey Thug Show, and Tim Wells TV show.

Clay served on the boards of KBR Rural Power District and the Farm Service Agency. He was also involved with R-Calf, NWTF (National Wildlife Turkey Federation) and SYC (Special Youth Challenge).

Clay’s faith was very important to him; he accepted Jesus into his heart at a very young age and was baptized in the Keya Paha River by Pastor Tim Zoeski of the Mills Community Church. At a young age Clay attended Bible School at the Mills Community Church where he continued to go for the remainder of his life.

Clay and Jennifer Jordan were married on June 20, 2015, at the Mills Community Church. Emmett was born in January of 2017 and Tommy in August of 2019. Clay loved his family.

Clay had a passion for ranching and loved to share that with his family. Often times he would take one or both boys with him to chore. Haying in the summer was a family production. Clay would have one of the boys in the tractor baling, and Jen would have one in the tractor raking. Jen never could quite get the speed just right. Clay was very particular. Clay made sure that the boys were front and center when the cows were worked and the branding was done. He encouraged them to be part of the process and ask questions.

Clay fought a long battle with his health and has several occasions to thank the Lord for miracles that brought him through. He courageously fought his battle with Lyme disease. Clay passed away peacefully and unexpectedly of natural causes at the ranch near Mills, NE, on April 28, 2025, at the age of 49.

Clay is preceded in death by his grandparents and his great nephew Bryer Layne Beck.

Clay is survived by his wife Jennifer and sons Emmett and Tommy; his mother Emily Beck and his father Dave Beck; his brother John (Anita) Beck and their family: Michaella (Joey) Smith and Micah; Jonah (Demi) Beck, and daughters Lenny and Lyla, Noah (Danielle) Beck; Jeremiah (Brooklynn) Beck, and daughter Scottie Be; and his brother Beau (Jasmine) Beck and their sons Carter, Wyatt, and Boone.